Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Warm wishes for the holidays as you prepare to celebrate with your loved ones. This is such a special time of year with so many wonderful events and occasions for us to gather together. May you have some time to reflect and remember the little things that make your day as well as this holiday season special.

I am grateful for all of you and your continuing interest and support. Thank you for allowing me to share my watercolors with you and yours, for taking me into your homes and special spaces,and for your ideas and suggestions. You make it all so worthwhile for me to continue creating!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Such a busy time of year for all of us. I hope you are enjoying your holiday preparations and not too stressed out. Our family got a jump start this year with the grandkids at our Thanksgiving get together and the kids all made sugar cookie houses - oh, the sugar high was worth it! As you can see there was lots of tasting going on. ha!The Small Works Show is up right now in Cave Creek, AZ at the Sonoran Art League's office and gallery located at 6051 E. Hidden Valley Drive. You can see the show 12 noon to 4 p.m. through Dec. 19th. There are lots of little ornaments for sale as well as an assortment of media in that just right size for gifts for you or someone special. I was delighted to receive an Award of Excellence for one of my watercolors - Blanket Flowers II!

I still have some little 2x2 ornaments, with original watercolors, available at my studio if you haven't had a chance to get one, but please order soon if you have your heart set on one.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Watch the slideshow of the wonderful work from all the participants in my floral landscape workshop! After learning and reviewing so many techniques for combining photos and painting our compositions, we had a group critique of each students' painting in progress. (Then as a follow up 2 weeks later, we met once more at my studio for a final critique.)

Monday, September 20, 2010

The 2 winners from my "guest sign in" drawings have had a chance to stop by my studio and select their free giclées.

Suzy Erickson chose the "Eagle's View of Verde Valley". (Her husband's interest in trains had a little influence there!) Juana and Jerry Snow chose "Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde", where Jerry has guided many tours!It was fun for me to be able to offer these prizes as a way of thanking my guests for participating in Flagstaff Open Studios. (My husband, John, helped me with the drawing process so it was all quite "scientific"!) Well that wraps up another successful year for Open Studios, but there are still more opportunities for you to check out my watercolors and sign up for door prizes...

September 29th and 30th is the Taste of Cave Creek Fine Art Exhibit at Stagecoach Village, Cave Creek, AZ, 4 pm to 10 pm. In addition to the Sonoran Art League art exhibit and sale, there are food and wine/beer/tequila tastings, cooking demos, live music and even hot air balloon launches! Look for me inside the exhibit hall at booth #17. For more information, you can visit the website www.CaveCreekChamber.org or call 480 488 6612.

More later on the Holiday Art Show, November 6th - this time in Flagstaff!

Oops! Almost forgot that my solo show continues at the Flagstaff Arboretum through September 30th. I was able to add a couple of new little watercolors to round out the show titled "Northland Highlights in Watercolor". What a treat to be able to show so many of my Northland Wayside paintings at the Arboretum!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

This is a tiny little easel with an original watercolor - perfect for that special someone - maybe you? Sunflowers are for all seasons, but there are also other images to choose from. And I still have some of the little boxes with original art for your shelf, desk or table top.Here is a sampling of my new Holiday Decorations - all original watercolors on a tiny canvas ready to hang on your tree or from a special hanger of your choosing! Yes, they are finished with a glossy varnish to reflect the sparkle of your lights and protect them from moisture -maybe snowflakes?

You are invited to Flagstaff Open Studios on August 28 and 29, 10 am t0 5 pm! My studio is #37 in the brochure and located at 1401 N. 4th St. #202 - follow the signs and yellow balloons. I will have brochures and maps to all the studios participating. It's a free event and lots of fun - a chance to see us in our studios and learn about lots of different art forms. No, my arm is not still in a sling - that was last year! I have had a chance to catch up on my painting and have new paintings and prints and some very unique little watercolor ornaments - perfect for your holiday decorations! I wish I had a whole basket full, but I'm painting more as I post this note. Come early and you will have several to choose from! As always, there will be a drawing each day from my "guest sign in" for a little print of your choice! See you then!-

Sunday, August 8, 2010

I have scheduled a workshop for September 23, 2010 at the Flagstaff Aquaplex. We will have the entire day to explore painting a floral landscape. So plan to bring your supplies and paint with me - you can choose either a floral or landscape composition if you don't wish to combine them. Check out the details at http://tinyurl.com/sept23class and register online or give me a call at 602 918 0234 (cell). Space is limited - must be registered by Sept. 13th!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

A fun article, some great photographs and a few insights from a photographer/writer from Northern Arizona who offers invaluable press for Catherine Sickafoose Watercolors! Enjoy! "Letting the Light Shine Through"

Friday, July 9, 2010

How exciting! Clair Anna Rose interviewed me regarding my July show at Brandy's and wrote a wonderful article in the July 2010 issue of the Noise. The interview appears in her column It's the Arts. Zoom in on the above copy to read it or look for the free newspaper in many locations in Northern AZ towns.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

We have the show up at Brandy's with a total of 39 framed pieces and 8 mini "art boxes"! A special thank you to Brandy and her staff for all their help in arranging my work so that it all fits together into a feast for the eyes! Come enjoy a bite to eat and a chai tea (my favorite) and see my show sometime this month.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Wow! It's almost time for my 7th Annual Show at Brandy's Restaurant in Flagstaff, AZ. The dates this year are July 6th through August 2nd. For those of you who are lucky enough to be in the "high country" of Arizona, be sure to plan to visit Brandy's for one of those award winning meals and see my newest watercolors. You can check out Brandy's website at www.BrandysRestaurant.com for directions and menu options. As for a sneak preview, I have put "With Sunshiny Faces" (a new sunflower painting) on a gallery wrapped canvas and it's stunning!

The backdrop for the poster above is my watercolor, "Eagle's View of Verde Valley", with the Verde Valley train out of Clarkdale/Cottonwood- another one of Arizona's gems. You'll just have to schedule a visit to see the other paintings that I have planned for the show!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Special thanks to these two ladies, Jan and Sherri, for inviting me to teach their workshop in Oak Creek. It was a lot of fun and everyone had a painting ready for our critique at the end of the day. What an inspiration for me! See my slideshow in the previous posting for an overview of the class and it's members.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

14 wonderful watercolorists joined me on Monday, June 7, 2010 for a full day class in the Village of Oak Creek, AZ, just south of Sedona. You can see from the pictures each are experienced in their own way and came well equipped with their own supplies. We explored together how to paint florals and landscapes using a variety of techniques including glazing, spatter, spray, sponging, and salt. Thank goodness someone had salt to loan me as I had left mine at home!

Enjoy their artwork! We wrapped up the day with a critique of everyone's paintings. It is always fun to see the works as they progress and view them with mat corners. Everyone had such positive comments for each other. It was wonderful to be part of such a warm and supportive group!

... a special thanks to my husband John for taking the photos of each of these inspiring artists!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

I had a special guest in my studio today - my little granddaughter was visiting and asked to paint at my table. Yes, she did a watercolor! Actually, it turned out to be a mixed media with a picture of a guinea pig "collaged" onto it (in anticipation of a birthday trip to the pet store). What fun to see my grandkids enjoying painting as much as I do!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

It was a beautiful Spring day in Flagstaff as I set up my booth along with 30 artists from the Flagstaff Artists' Coalition for the Marketplace in the CCC Commons. I'm sure everyone who attended would agree that there was a terrific variety of art available by a very professional group of artists.

It was fun to catch up with familiar faces and make new friends. The folks visiting my booth were able to sign up for a drawing of a small giclée and the lucky winner was Cathy Owen of Flagstaff! All in all, it was a great day with some new paintings and new items to share.

A big thank you to all who came out and made it a successful event!

Be sure to watch for this event next year! Now, next up for me, will be my show at Brandy's in July. I will keep you posted on new watercolors. Meanwhile, give me a call and visit my studio when you need that unique gift for someone special (hint, hint---maybe Mom?)

Monday, April 5, 2010

Spring and watercolors - how wonderfully they go together! What should I paint first? The flowers are blooming everywhere in the Arizona desert as well as at my front door! Here you can catch a glimpse of my sweet peas as they climb the trellis - at least 7 feet tall! And they smell heavenly!

Some of you folks have had more than your share of winter. Well a little floral watercolor might just be the thing to hurry spring along in your neck of the woods. Check out my website for some ideas and let me know if you have a favorite flower or hiking place that I should consider. The website has been updated with some new landscapes and a new sunflower painting will be posted soon.

Also check out my calendar. Next up is the Artists' Marketplace on April 24th in Flagstaff at the Coconino Community College, 10am - 4pm. Be sure to mark your calendar if you are in the area. There will be a wonderful array of art to enjoy by all those talented Northern Arizona artists! I will have some small originals on stand up boxes, new giclée prints and cards. Oh yes, and a drawing for a small giclée print! Look forward to seeing you!!!

Friday, February 5, 2010

The Small Gems Juried Show went up this week in Flagstaff, AZ at the Artists' Gallery on San Francisco St. It's a wonderful collection of small art pieces by a variety of artists. "First Blossoms" (4"x 3") "Snowfall" (3.5"x 5") "Brilliant Aspen" (5"x 3.5")

Theses watercolors are my entries. They were fun little gems to paint on watercolor paper and then mount on little boxes that were crafted by my husband John. With a waterproof archive finish they are ready for display as desktop or wall art !

They will continue to be on display in the window until the end of the month, unless of course they sell first! If you are in the area, be sure to see them soon!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Here is the watercolor painting that I was commissioned to do for a special Christmas present. If you look closely, you will see Bella, the family's golden retriever - she is always being asked to hurry and catch up with everyone. (I actually learned that little fact after I had finished the painting and titled it!) The setting is the desert outside of Tucson in the Rincon Mountain area. A beautiful place for a hike and a great setting for the painting! I planned this composition from an assortment of photos that were provided of the different family members on various hikes. It was fun putting them together and deciding just how I would portray them. Everyone enjoyed finding themselves in the painting and, all in all, it was a great surprise for their Grandma to present to them! (Perhaps this will give you an idea of a painting you would like to have me do?)

I hope everyone is getting off to a wonderful new year and working hard at all those resolutions! But not too hard - it's still just January! I am having fun working on some new paintings and look forward to sharing them with you soon. Thanks for your wonderful comments and emails. I love hearing from you!

About the Artist: Catherine Sickafoose

“By observing the details in everyday surroundings, I find a wealth of ideas: from the smallest of sweet peas on my garden trellis, and the rhythm of color in the Japanese flower gardens, to the soaring San Francisco Peaks in Northern Arizona.”